𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐃, it felt like someone was knocking against his skull. Steve groggily opened his eyes. That was when he realized he wasn't quite sure where he was or how he had gotten there. Everything around him was dark despite the spotlight that shone down on him from the single light above. He turned in every direction for some familiar sign, but only the darkness could be seen. He took a step forward, but recoiled at the temporary blinding glare that flashed in front of him. It was only then that he noticed the glass wall. He glanced over his shoulder and quickly noticed a similar glare from the other three directions. Slowly, he remembered his last whereabouts: The hotel room, the confrontation, and then falling. He'd been knocked unconscious and since he was still alive, he assumed that he never hit the pavement.

Crystal hadn't made the usual preparations before they'd left the hotel room as she'd been scared out of her mind by the Avengers that made themselves look more like a threat than allies, so he'd been scooped up into her hands and taken on an incredibly dangerous joyride over the city. Things turned for the worse when the hulk had joined the chase, but the severity of the situation increased when an unknown variable entered the scene. Said variable had taken out two avengers without breaking a sweat before turning their attention toward the girl. As she was yanked back and her hands separated, Steve had fallen down toward the city at an alarming rate.

"I'd say you're quite fortunate to be alive." Steve raised an eyebrow and looked out into the darkness at a form barely outlined by the single light source. "If not for the boy's keen senses, we'd be scraping bits of you off the pavement, I'm sure."

"Who are you?" Steve asked as he straightened his posture and stiffened.

The man bent over and tapped his finger up against the glass. Steve winced and shook his head to clear the ringing that had immediately echoed and ricocheted around the inside of his skull. The man grinned and dusted off his hands as if the menial work of his action was too much.

"I'm afraid if you're trying to converse, you'll have to wait until we arrive in the other room." The man chuckled to himself. "I don't currently have a megaphone on me."

Steve stumbled as a pair of guards lifted his glass prison and carried him into the next room over. As they drew closer, he could hear yelling, but it was muffled and difficult to make out what exactly was being said. The man Steve had seen the moment he woke up gestured for the glass prison to be set down and then cleared his throat.

"How is that?" he asked, facing away from the glass.

"I need to know he's okay."

Steve's eyes lifted from the ground to see Crystal within a containment cell of her own. The man snapped his fingers, and the glass prison was brought closer.

From the cell beside Crystal, Sam's eyes widened and then narrowed. "What did you do to him?"

"Me?" The man gestured to himself innocently. "I didn't do anything. He's really of little use to me in his current predicament."

Crystal turned her eyes away and Sam only seemed to grow more confused. "Then what—"

"It was an accident!" she snapped and interrupted him before he could ask again. "I messed up the equation."

"Very impressive all the same." The man shrugged. "We are all very eager to learn how you did it."

"Who exactly is 'we'?" Sam asked.

The man chuckled and looked over his shoulder. "Would you like to help me elaborate, Rumlow?"

Brock Rumlow, ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, walked past carrying several large cases. "Keep me out of your mind games, Skull."

The man giddily laughed. "Oh, how I love to hear that name uttered."

"The Skull is dead." Steve crossed his arms, but he wasn't so sure anymore. The man's face was hidden, but his presence held the same confidence and intimidation of the original skull. However, it was impossible to tell the true identity of the faux skull as the man covered his face with a mask resembling the image of a red skull. It was unnerving to see the crude mask paired with the refined black suit he wore, complemented by various red accents.

Crystal looked from Steve back up to the man and crossed her arms in a similar fashion. "The Skull is dead."

"People thought Hydra was dead too, but the name lives on." The man chuckled and then bowed. Although he introduced himself, the mask continued to conceal his identity. "Johann Schmidt the Third, the newest leader of HYDRA's operations and the individual responsible for taking on the mantle of the Red Skull... but please feel free to call me Hans."

"Is not speaking to you at all an option?" Crystal retorted.

Hans shrugged. "Have it your way, I'll be back in a few to collect you."

"Collect me for what?" Crys raised an eyebrow.

Hans didn't reply. He just proceeded to walk away into the dimly lit hallways of what Steve only assumed was an underground base of HYDRA operations. Sam took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes before he decided to begin analyzing his cell for weak points.

"You may as well forget an escape," Crystal muttered audibly. "They've taken extra precautions."

"Who are you anyways, kid?" Sam turned in the direction of her voice to face the wall separating them. "Aside from a fugitive and a thief."

"Crystal." Steve could tell that she was irritated that Sam had called her 'kid'. "And I technically had permission to use your credit card."

Sam then turned to look at Steve. "You let her use my card?!... No, no, don't you shrug and look all innocent."

"He said he would pay you back," Crystal replied as if that made everything alright.

Sam remained quiet and that silence lingered a moment longer before he asked, "Alright, if we can't escape, what can we do?"

"Wait," Crystal replied, leaning up against the wall of her cell, displeased by the only option left. "See what they're planning."

The sound of footsteps drew near, and a boy walked out of the shadows. Sam flinched, but the boy continued to walk past his cell as if he didn't exist. However, he stopped in front of Crystal's cell, showing a particular interest as if  no one but him and her actually understood what she was capable of doing.

"Ryker."

"Crystal."

The false, sweet tone of sincerity that Crystal used was dripping with venom. Her eyes were full of hate, and if she wasn't busy continuing the conversation, she probably would've been grinding her teeth as that pain was better than the memories that arrived with the boy. "Working with HYDRA now?"

"A temporary arrangement." The boy was smug, but she saw through the facade. He was just as annoyed by her presence, and the equality of hate could be seen in his eyes as well.

"I asked, but I didn't really care."

Crystal's snide remark was all but ignored as Ryker rolled his eyes and opened the cell. Crystal raised an eyebrow but stepped out of the prison. However, as he took her by the arm and began to lead her away from the others toward a narrow corridor, she realized that his intention was not helping her escape.

"Hey!" Steve shouted, despite knowing that he'd remain unheard, "Where are you taking her?"

Sam seemed to catch on that Steve was upset and turned to face Ryker. "What's going on?"

"The Skull needs her to give him the antidote," Ryker called over his shoulder, "He's very interested in returning the soldier to his super stature."